Effect of junctional reflux on the venous clinical severity score in patients with insufficiency of the great saphenous vein (JURY study).

OBJECTIVE: Effective treatment options are available for chronic venous insufficiency associated with superficial venous reflux. Although many patients with C2 and C3 disease based on the CEAP (Clinical-Etiological-Anatomical-Pathophysiological) classification have combined great saphenous vein (GSV) and saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) reflux, some may not have concomitant SFJ reflux. Several payors have determined that symptom severity in patients without SFJ reflux does not warrant treatment. In patients planned for venous ablation, we tested whether Venous Clinical Severity Scores (VCSS) are equivalent in those with GSV reflux alone compared with those with both GSV and SFJ reflux. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at 10 centers. Inclusion criteria were: candidate for endovenous ablation as determined by treating physician; 18 to 80 years of age; GSV reflux with or without SFJ reflux on ultrasound; and C2 or C3 disease. Exclusion criteria were prior deep vein thrombosis; prior vein ablation on the index limb; ilio-caval obstruction; and renal, hepatic, or heart failure requiring prior hospitalization. An a priori sample size was calculated. We used multiple linear regression (adjusted for patient characteristics) to compare differences in VCSS scores of the two groups at baseline, and to test whether scores were equivalent using a priori equivalence boundaries of +1 and -1. In secondary analyses, we tested differences in VCSS scores in patients with C2 and C3 disease separately. RESULTS: A total of 352 patients were enrolled; 64.2% (n = 226) had SFJ reflux, and 35.8% (n = 126) did not. The two groups did not differ by major clinical characteristics. The mean age of the cohort was 53.9 ± 14.3 years; women comprised 74.2%; White patients 85.8%; and body mass index was 27.8 ± 6.1 kg/m2. The VCSS scores in patients with and without SFJ reflux were found to be equivalent; SFJ reflux was not a significant predictor of VCSS score; and mean VCSS scores did not differ significantly (6.4 vs 6.6, respectively, P = .40). In secondary subset analyses, VCSS scores were equivalent between C2 patients with and without SFJ reflux, and VCSS scores of C3 patients with SFJ reflux were lower than those without SFJ reflux. CONCLUSIONS: Symptom severity is equivalent in patients with GSV reflux with or without SFJ reflux. The absence of SFJ reflux alone should not determine the treatment paradigm in patients with symptomatic chronic venous insufficiency. Patients with GSV reflux who meet clinical criteria for treatment should have equivalent treatment regardless of whether or not they have SFJ reflux.

Immediate and delayed complications of inferior vena cava filters.

OBJECTIVE: Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement has increased dramatically in the past two decades. However, literature supporting the efficacy of these devices has been limited and controversial. In the present study, we have evaluated the predictors and rates of technical complications after IVC filter insertion in a large national database. METHODS: The Vascular Quality Initiative registry was explored (January 2013 to December 2020). Immediate complications were defined as venous injury requiring treatment, filter misplacement (failure to open, deployed >20 mm from intended site or in wrong vein, embolized to the heart), angulation >20°, and insertion site complications. Delayed complications were defined as migration, angulation >15°, fracture, caval and/or iliac thrombosis, filter thrombus, fragment embolization, and perforation. The Pearson χ2 test was used to compare the baseline characteristics between the patients who had developed immediate and/or delayed complications and those who had not. The predictors of these complications were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression, Cox proportional hazard regression, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: A total of 14,784 patients were included in the present analysis, with a median follow-up of 11 months (interquartile range, 4-16 months). The rate of immediate and delayed complications was 1.8% and 3.1%, respectively. Angulation (1.2%) was the most common immediate complication, and filter thrombosis (1.6%) was the most common delayed complication. Compared with the patients with no immediate complications, those with immediate complications were more likely to have had abnormal anatomy (6.0% vs 1.7%; P < .001) and a landing zone other than infrarenal (7.0% vs 4.2%; P = .02). Compared with their counterparts, those with delayed complications were less likely to have received statins (21.0% vs 29.5%; P = .006) and were more likely to have a family history of venous thromboembolism (8.0% vs 5.1%; P = .047). Logistic regression analysis revealed that renal vein visualization was associated a 50% reduction (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27-0.92; P = .027) in the odds of immediate complications and female sex and abnormal anatomy were associated with a 41% (aOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.08-1.85; P = .013) and 244% (aOR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.66-7.16; P < .001) increase in the odds of immediate complications, respectively. Immediate (P = .21) and delayed (P = .51) complications did not result in increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The immediate and delayed IVC filter complication rates were 1.8% and 3.1%, respectively, but the occurrence of complications was not associated with increased mortality. Female sex was associated with an increase in the development of immediate complications. The incidence of immediate complications might be mitigated if advanced imaging were used for renal vein visualization before IVC filter deployment. Delayed complications might be avoided if IVC filter retrieval were performed in a timely fashion and institutional retrieval protocols were optimized.

Chameleon™ PTA balloon catheter: A single device in managing thrombosed AV access.

Thrombectomy is a common procedure for maintenance of arteriovenous (AV) access and is critical to prolong access life. Techniques for performing thrombectomy are incredibly diverse, ranging from open surgical procedures to percutaneous interventions. Percutaneous interventions include a combination of thrombectomy devices to clear the thrombus and balloon angioplasty to treat the underlying lesion. In this case report we describe a novel technique using a single device, the Chameleon™ PTA balloon catheter (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) balloon catheter, to safely and efficiently perform a percutaneous intervention.

The American Venous Forum, American Vein and Lymphatic Society and the Society for Vascular Medicine expert opinion consensus on lymphedema diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Lymphedema imposes a significant economic and social burden in modern societies. Controversies about its risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment permeate the literature. The goal of this study was to assess experts' opinions on the available literature on lymphedema while following the Delphi methodology. METHODS: In December of 2019, the American Venous Forum created a working group tasked to develop a consensus statement regarding current practices for the diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema. A panel of experts was identified by the working group. The working group then compiled a list of clinical questions, risk factors, diagnosis and evaluation, and treatment of lymphedema. Fifteen questions that met the criteria for consensus were included in the list. Using a modified Delphi methodology, six questions that received between 60% and 80% of the votes were included in the list for the second round of analysis. Consensus was reached whenever >70% agreement was achieved. RESULTS: The panel of experts reached consensus that cancer, infection, chronic venous disease, and surgery are risk factors for secondary lymphedema. Consensus was also reached that clinical examination is adequate for diagnosing lymphedema and that all patients with chronic venous insufficiency (C3-C6) should be treated as lymphedema patients. No consensus was reached regarding routine clinical practice use of radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy as a mandatory diagnostic tool. However, the panel came to consensus regarding the importance of quantifying edema in all patients (93.6% in favor). In terms of treatment, consensus was reached favoring the regular use of compression garments to reduce lymphedema progression (89.4% in favor, 10.6% against; mean score of 79), but the use of Velcro devices as the first line of compression therapy did not reach consensus (59.6% in favor vs 40.4% against; total score of 15). There was agreement that sequential pneumatic compression should be considered as adjuvant therapy in the maintenance phase of treatment (91.5% in favor vs. 8.5% against; mean score of 85), but less so in its initial phases (61.7% in favor vs. 38.3% against; mean score of 27). Most of the panel agreed that manual lymphatic drainage should be a mandatory treatment modality (70.2% in favor), but the panel was split in half regarding the proposal that reductive surgery should be considered for patients with failed conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: This consensus process demonstrated that lymphedema experts agree on the majority of the statements related to risk factors for lymphedema, and the diagnostic workup for lymphedema patients. Less agreement was demonstrated on statements related to treatment of lymphedema. This consensus suggests that variability in lymphedema care is high even among the experts. Developers of future practice guidelines for lymphedema should consider this information, especially in cases of low-level evidence that supports practice patterns with which the majority of experts disagree.

The Symptoms-Varices-Pathophysiology classification of pelvic venous disorders: A report of the American Vein & Lymphatic Society International Working Group on Pelvic Venous Disorders.

[Box: see text]With the support of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Vein & Lymphatic Society, the American Venous Forum, the Canadian Society of Phlebology, the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe, the European Venous Forum, the International Pelvic Pain Society, the International Union of Phlebology, the Korean Society of Interventional Radiology, the Society of Interventional Radiology, and the Society for Vascular Surgery.

The Symptoms-Varices-Pathophysiology classification of pelvic venous disorders: A report of the American Vein & Lymphatic Society International Working Group on Pelvic Venous Disorders.

As the importance of pelvic venous disorders (PeVD) has been increasingly recognized, progress in the field has been limited by the lack of a valid and reliable classification instrument. Misleading historical nomenclature, such as the May-Thurner, pelvic congestion, and nutcracker syndromes, often fails to recognize the interrelationship of many pelvic symptoms and their underlying pathophysiology. Based on a perceived need, the American Vein and Lymphatic Society convened an international, multidisciplinary panel charged with the development of a discriminative classification instrument for PeVD. This instrument, the Symptoms-Varices-Pathophysiology ("SVP") classification for PeVD, includes three domains-Symptoms (S), Varices (V), and Pathophysiology (P), with the pathophysiology domain encompassing the Anatomic (A), Hemodynamic (H), and Etiologic (E) features of the patient's disease. An individual patient's classification is designated as SVPA,H,E. For patients with pelvic origin lower extremity signs or symptoms, the SVP instrument is complementary to and should be used in conjunction with the Clinical-Etiologic-Anatomic-Physiologic (CEAP) classification. The SVP instrument accurately defines the diverse patient populations with PeVD, an important step in improving clinical decision making, developing disease-specific outcome measures and identifying homogenous patient populations for clinical trials.

Diagnostic approach to lower limb edema.

Patients with lower limb edema are frequently referred to vascular specialists for evaluation. Multiple etiologies must be considered and often more than one cause may be present. Notably, the role of lymphatic system regardless of the underlying pathology has been underestimated. A thorough history and physical examination and a carefully considered laboratory and imaging evaluation are critical in differentiating causes. In this opinion article, we propose a diagnostic algorithm that incorporates a systematic approach to the patient with leg swelling and provides an efficient pathway for the differential diagnosis for this problem.

Present and future options for treatment of infrainguinal deep vein disease.

OBJECTIVE: Management of chronic deep vein disease focuses on the alleviation of reflux and obstruction. For the suprainguinal veins, the main underlying pathologic process is obstruction, which has been recognized as a significant contributor to chronic venous insufficiency. This is currently being addressed with venous stenting and the development of dedicated stents designed for this segment of the venous system. Treatment of the femoropopliteal vein (FPV) is far more challenging because of the idiosyncratic anatomy, the hemodynamic physiology, and the technical aspects of size mismatch and valve flow dynamics in managing deep venous reflux. This review article discusses traditional and emerging technologies to treat infrainguinal disease. METHODS: Previous and current articles addressing this issue were reviewed. Emphasis was placed on emerging techniques and technologies. RESULTS: Significant bench work, in vitro and in vivo studies, have been conducted over the last 40 years addressing the issue of infrainguinal reflux and obstruction. Historically, open procedures to address FPV reflux and obstruction have had variable success in a few centers around the world. The significant increase of emerging endovascular therapies may allow more appropriate, reproducible, widespread treatment of infrainguinal deep venous disease. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate and durable therapies for infrainguinal venous disease represent one of the greatest challenges for a vein specialist. Recently, a cluster of interest and techniques/technologies have been developed. The endovascular management of arterial disease is mature. The endovenous management of infrainguinal disease is on the cusp of meaningful innovation. The purpose of this evidence summary is to describe the options for the management of chronic FPV disease, with emphasis on emerging technologies and techniques.

Evaluation of VTE prophylaxis and the impact of alternate regimens on post-operative bleeding and thrombotic complications following bariatric procedures.

BACKGROUND: Studies examining utilization and impact of venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis for patients undergoing bariatric surgery are limited. Determination of the optimal prophylactic regimen to minimize complications is crucial. METHODS: The Cerner Health Facts database from 2003 to 2013 was queried using ICD-9 codes to identify patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). VTE chemoprophylaxis regimens were divided into pre-operative alone (PreP), post-operative alone (PostP), both pre-operative and post-operative (PPP), or no prophylaxis (NP). Specific chemoprophylaxis agents were compared. Comparisons in inpatient clinical outcomes were based on univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression when appropriate. RESULTS: We identified 11,860 patients who underwent LSG and RYGB. 634 (5.35%) had PreP, 4593 (38.73%) had PostP, 2646 (22.31%) had PPP, and 3987 (33.62%) had NP. The overall rates of transfusion, DVT, and PE were 2.48, 0.27, and 0.18%, respectively. Patients without chemoprophylaxis had higher rate of DVT compared to any chemoprophylaxis (0.58 vs 0.11%, p < 0.0001), without any significant difference in PE rate. Patients with pre-operative chemoprophylaxis were more likely to receive transfusion compared to patients with post-operative prophylaxis alone (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.28-3), without significant difference in having VTE. When examining heparin versus enoxaparin versus mixed regimen in the PostP group, mixed regimen was associated with increased transfusion requirements (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgical VTE chemoprophylaxis utilization is inconsistent. In this study, post-operative VTE chemoprophylaxis was associated with decreased VTE events compared to NP, while minimizing bleeding compared to PreP. Mixed therapy using heparin and enoxaparin was associated with more bleeding.

The staff and patient perspectives on compliance with mechanical prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the accuracy of assessment and compliance with proper use of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices before and after implementation of education, accountability, and oversight measures for health care providers. METHODS: Prospective analysis of randomly selected, emergently hospitalized adult patients was performed (group 1). IPC use was observed by random visual inspections. These patients underwent independent venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessments by the admitting service and a VTE consult service. Mechanical prophylaxis orders were subsequently reviewed. Next, strategies to improve compliance were implemented. One year later, prospective analysis of a similar cohort (group 2) was performed, followed by surveys of staff and patients to identify barriers to compliance. RESULTS: In group 1, VTE risk assessments were accurate and IPC was appropriately ordered. Of patients who needed IPC, 24 had IPC correctly applied and 72 did not. In group 2, VTE risk assessments were accurate and IPC was appropriately ordered. Of patients who needed IPC, 26 had IPC correctly applied and 74 did not. Surveys revealed that most providers are aware of the indications, order appropriately, and make efforts to ensure application. Most nurses reported that orders were placed and that IPC was applied. Most patients claimed to have knowledge of VTE and IPC use, but half reported that they were not educated and complained of sleep interference. CONCLUSIONS: Even with implementation of strategies to improve compliance, most patients do not receive adequate mechanical prophylaxis. Health care providers appropriately order prophylactic measures but do not follow up to ensure application. Discomfort and lack of education of the patient were important barriers to prophylaxis.

Diverse management of isolated calf deep venous thrombosis in a university hospital.

BACKGROUND: The management of patients with isolated deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is controversial, leading to overtreatment and undertreatment with several complications and increased cost. The aim of this study was to describe the management of isolated calf DVT (ICDVT) in a university hospital. METHODS: Data on patients with acute DVT in our hospital are prospectively entered in a database through our venous thromboembolism team. All patients had an objective diagnosis with duplex ultrasound (DU) in our accredited vascular laboratory. A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with ICDVT from July 2015 to June 2016. Patients with proximal DVT were excluded. The management of the patients was assessed for use of different types of anticoagulation, use of sequential compression devices, serial follow-up with ultrasound, or any combination. Patients' demographic information, risk factors, calf DVT anatomic location, DVT extension into calf deep veins, DVT propagation to proximal deep veins, and pulmonary embolism were collected as well. RESULTS: There were 159 patients diagnosed with ICDVT in 1 year, of whom 52% were female with a mean age of 59 years. Nearly half of the patients were smokers (48%), 62% had limited or no mobility, 36% had surgery within the past 30 days, and 23% were considered readmissions. Anticoagulation was given to 121 patients who received seven different types of treatment varying from prophylactic dosing to thrombin inhibitors. In the rest of the 38 patients, 28 had a contraindication to anticoagulation and two had an inferior vena cava filter placed. Eighty-six patients had one DU follow-up study, 39 patients had two follow-up studies, and 21 had three follow-up studies. In the 86 patients with one DU study, seven propagated within the calf (8.1%) and two to the proximal veins (2.3%). Two patients developed nonfatal pulmonary embolism (1.2%). Sequential compression devices were applied in 75 patients despite that the majority were receiving anticoagulation and having serial DU examinations. CONCLUSIONS: Significant variation in the management of ICDVT was found on the basis of the physician's preference. The type of treatment overall did not follow a plan based on the patient's risk. Such an approach may increase the cost in the management of these patients without ensuring benefit.

A rare case of idiopathic bilateral ovarian vein thrombosis.

Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is a rare medical disorder most often diagnosed in the peripartum period and maybe associated with other risk factors for thrombosis. Rarely, OVT is considered idiopathic. It occurs in the right ovarian vein alone in two-thirds of patients. In this report, we present a case of idiopathic and bilateral OVT in a 35-year-old woman who presented with 2-day history of left flank pain. Duplex ultrasound imaging and computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis. Oral anticoagulation achieved a favorable outcome.

A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of endovenous thermal ablation with or without polidocanol endovenous microfoam treatment in patients with great saphenous vein incompetence and visible varicosities.

Objectives * Varithena 017 Investigator Group: Michael Vasquez, MD, Venous Institute of Buffalo, Amherst, NY; Antonios Gasparis, MD, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY; Kathleen Gibson, MD, Lake Washington Vascular, Bellevue, WA; James Theodore King, MD, Vein Clinics of America, Oakbrook Terrace, IL; Nick Morrison, MD, Morrison Vein Institute, Scottsdale, AZ; Girish Munavalli, MD, Dermatology, Laser & Vein Specialists of the Carolinas, Charlotte, NC; Eulogio J. Sanchez, MD, Batey Cardiovascular Center, Bradenton, FL. Varithena® is a trademark of Provensis Ltd, a BTG International group company. To determine the efficacy and safety of polidocanol endovenous microfoam (PEM 0.5%, 1.0%) and placebo each administered with endovenous thermal ablation. Methods A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study was conducted in patients with great saphenous vein incompetence and symptomatic and visible superficial venous disease. Co-primary endpoints were physician-assessed and patient-assessed appearance change from Baseline to Week 8. Results A total of 117 patients received treatment (38 placebo, 39 PEM 0.5%, 40 PEM 1%). Physician-rated vein appearance at Week 8 was significantly better with PEM ( p = 0.001 vs. placebo); patient-assessed appearance trended similarly. Polidocanol endovenous microfoam provided improvements in clinically meaningful change in patient-assessed and physician-assessed appearance ( p < 0.05), need for additional treatment ( p < 0.05), saphenofemoral junction reflux elimination, symptoms, and QOL. In PEM recipients, the most frequent adverse event was superficial thrombophlebitis (35.4%) Conclusions Endovenous thermal ablation + PEM significantly improved physician-assessed appearance at Week 8, increased the proportion of patients with a clinically meaningful change in appearance, and reduced need for additional treatment. www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01197833).

A standardized ultrasound approach to pelvic congestion syndrome.

Pelvic congestion syndrome is one of the many causes of chronic pelvic pain and is often diagnosed based on exclusion of other pathologies. Over the past decades, pelvic congestion syndrome was recognized to be a more common cause of chronic pelvic pain. Multiple diagnostic modalities including pelvic duplex ultrasonography, transvaginal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance were studied. In the current literature, selective ovarian venography, an invasive imaging approach, is believed to be the gold standard for diagnosing pelvic congestion syndrome.

Morbidity and mortality after thermal venous ablations.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of saphenous vein reflux has evolved over the years with the development of thermal ablation techniques. This study was designed to analyze the complications of endovenous ablation (EVA) using data from an open, voluntary national database. METHODS: We analyzed 349 adverse events of endovenous laser (EVLT) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) reported in the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database from January 2000 to June 2012. Outcomes of interest were pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), death, and device failures (i.e. broken laser tip, broken sheath). RESULTS: Two hundred and three (58%) reports were patient-related injuries and the other 146 (42%) device-related failures. More complications were related to RFA compared to EVLT (216 vs. 133 procedures). Thirty (8%) non-fatal PEs and 123 (35%) DVTs were described. There were 7 (2%) periprocedural deaths, all from PE. Of the 135 device failure reports, 41(30%) required surgical intervention. Despite an increasing number of procedures, reported events peaked around 2008 and stabilized since then. Over the past 5 years, the incidence of adverse events reported for EVLT and RFA were 1 and 2 per 10,000 procedures. The complication ratio over the years was <1:2500 for DVT, <1:10,000 for PE, <1:50,000 for death. CONCLUSION: EVA has gained high acceptance worldwide but the risks tend to be overlooked. Despite a very low complication rate, mortality has been reported. The complications found in MAUDE represent only a fraction as the majority of the practitioners are not aware of this database. Further investigation by a large national registry is warranted to better define the real magnitude of EVA complications.

Accuracy of venous thromboembolism assessment and compliance to prophylaxis in a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: Proper assessment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk level in hospitalized patients is vital to providing adequate prophylaxis. Clinical decision support (CDS) tools with electronic medical record (EMR) have been used by institutions to improve assessment and prophylaxis. As such, this study was conducted after implementing such a system to compare admitting service (AS) assessment of VTE risk level to the VTE consult service (CS) assessment. In addition, compliance of ordered prophylaxis based on AS assessment was evaluated. METHODS: At a tertiary care center, we performed a review of randomly selected patients assessed within 18 h of admission for VTE risk over a five-month period. A total of 104 patients were evaluated, four of which were excluded because of VTE presence on admission. Patients were assessed for VTE risk independently, first by the AS, followed by the VTE CS. Prophylaxis orders were then reviewed based on AS assessment compliance to CDS recommendations for prophylaxis based on ACCP guidelines. RESULTS: All 100 patients underwent VTE risk assessment within 18 h from admission. The mean age was 63 years. Comparing AS to CS assessment, 13 patients had incorrect assessments (p < .001). Of these, six patients were under-assessed (p = .029), and seven patients were over-assessed (p = .014). Based on AS assessment there were eight patients who had incorrect prophylaxis ordered. Unnecessary exposure to complications due to inappropriate prophylaxis occurred in five patients. CONCLUSION: Despite the use of EMR CDS tools, there continues to be a significant number of patients that are being under-assessed and under-prophylaxed for VTE resulting in exposing patients to potential harm. Quality programs need to be instituted to further improve VTE assessment and prophylaxis.

Investigation of venous ulcers.

The evaluation of patients with venous ulceration primarily includes noninvasive methods to elucidate the distribution and extent of pathology. Duplex ultrasound is the first line of investigation, as it provides assessment of both reflux and obstruction conditions. In patients with iliofemoral pathology, axial imaging with computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging should be performed. If the treatment of iliofemoral vein obstruction is warranted, then invasive assessment using venography and/or intravascular ultrasound should be used to guide the interventional procedure. Venous valve reflux can be identified and accurately characterized by duplex ultrasound, whereas the ultrasound assessment of functional abnormality associated with obstruction is less reliable. In patients with ulceration, the evaluation for and treatment of proximal venous obstruction has resulted in improved ulcer healing.

The natural history and treatment outcomes of symptomatic ovarian vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Information on ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is limited to some retrospective studies. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the natural history and treatment outcomes of OVT. METHODS: Patients with documented symptomatic OVT who were treated with anticoagulation and had at least 3 months of follow-up were included. Outcomes of interest were recanalization rates, pain resolution, pelvic congestion syndrome, recurrent deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and mortality. All patients underwent clinical examination and duplex ultrasound; computed tomography venography was selectively performed. RESULTS: There were 23 women with a mean age of 44 years (range, 23-68 years). Fifteen (65%) right, 5 (22%) left, and 3 (23%) bilateral OVTs were detected. The median follow-up was 27 months (range, 3 months-7 years). The most common presentation was abdominal pain in nine patients (39%), followed by flank pain in six (26%). Two patients (9%) presented with dyspnea due to pulmonary embolism. The most prevalent condition was the puerperium (n = 9; 39%). Complete recanalization occurred in 16 veins (61%), partial recanalization in four veins (15%), and occlusion in six veins (24%) while patients were receiving anticoagulation. Four patients (17%) had lower extremity DVT during follow-up after the interruption of anticoagulation. Three patients (13%) developed pelvic congestion syndrome. All four deaths (17%) were due to cancer-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic OVT is rare. Patients fare well with anticoagulation; complete recanalization occurs in about two thirds of the patients. Recurrent DVT is found in lower extremity veins after the interruption of anticoagulation in 17% of patients; mortality was seen only in cancer patients.